By Matters India Reporter
Kochi: A weekly managed by the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese in Kerala has extended support to the residents of Lakshadweep islands in the Arabian Sea.
A recent editorial in Sathyadeepam (light of truth) termed the crisis as ‘not just an attack against minority but against humanity.’
The politics of Lakshadweep had always represented Indian nationalism, it stated.
The article stated that the anti-democratic moves in the garb of administrative reforms by administrator Praful Khoda Patel have trapped Lakshadweep into the dangerous possibilities of uncertainty.
“May Lakshadweep continue on a path of development that has a place for everyone. Let there be a continuity of democratic values there,” the editorial stated.
Three draft laws, brought in by Patel since February, has sparked a massive uproar in the island — the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Regulation (PASA), the Animal Preservation Regulation, and the Panchayat Regulation.
Another draft law — the draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation 2021 —allows the administrator to acquire any land required for a public purpose.
While PASA, which is more popularly known as the Goonda Act, provides for the administrator to order the detention of a person for a period of up to one year if his or her action “adversely affects the maintenance of public order,” the Animal Preservation Regulation bans slaughter of cows, calves, bulls or bullocks.
The Panchayat Regulations disqualifies those with more than two children from becoming gram panchayat members.
According to National Crime Records Bureau data, only 121 cases of crime were registered on the islands in 2017, 86 in 2018, 186 in 2019 and 89 in 2020.
The BJP’s communal politics is behind the administrator’s decision to impose the Lakshadweep Animal Preservation Regulation, 2021.
Around 96.5 percent of Lakshadweep’s population of approximately 70,000 people is Muslim.
Violation of the law will lead to jail term of maximum 10 years and fine of up 500,000 rupees.
The regulation states that it provides for the preservation of animals suitable for milch, breeding or for agricultural purposes. For this purpose, no certificate will be given to slaughter cows, calves, bull or bullocks in the island.
According to the regulation, the slaughter of animals, other than cows or bulls, for religious purposes will require a certificate from the authorities.
The authorities, it adds, will not grant certificates for slaughtering animals other than cows and bulls if they are found useful for agricultural work or for the purpose of breeding.
The law also prohibits transportation of cows and bulls for slaughter.
The draft panchayat regulation disqualifies those with more than two children from getting elected to the gram panchayat. However, the law will not disqualify anyone having more than two children if they have been elected before the regulation has been notified.
Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Karnataka have already enacted laws disqualifying a person having more than two children from contesting panchayat elections.
The regulation also provides for reservation of 50 percent seats in gram panchayats for women.